other by means of apertures, or contain a 

 spiral thread. The cell walls of the stem 

 occasionally exhibit scalariform marks or 

 a spiral structure. The spores are gene- 

 rally numerous, and produce on germina- 

 tion a green conferva-like mass of threads, 

 forming a thin felt. From this the plant 

 springs immediately, and either on the 

 same or on different individuals produces 

 bundles of antheridia and archegonia. The 

 antheridia produce spiral spermatozoids, 

 which impregnate the embryo cell at the 

 base of the archegonia. This by cell-divi- 

 sion gives rise to a capsule, which swells, 

 and in most cases is lifted up by a stem 

 bursting the archegonium, which remains 

 as a kind of hood or veil at the top of the 

 capsule. The capsule in the space between 

 the outer wall and the axis, which often 

 forms a permanent columella, produces by 

 cell-division the spores ; and at the same 

 time provision is made in most cases for 

 the separation of a lid, and the gradual 

 dispersion of the spores by the formation 

 of one or more whorls of hygroscopic 

 often brightly coloured teeth, which arise 

 from a modification of the different layers 

 of cells in the walls of the capsule. These 

 teeth, when present, are either only four 

 in number or multiples of four, and both 

 in colour and structure afford beautiful 

 microscopic objects. 



The fruit in Mosses is either terminal 

 (Acrocarpous) or lateral (Pleurocar- 

 pous); and in the latter division a few 

 produce fruit on short lateral branchlets 

 (Cladocarpous). The main sections are 

 founded on these differences in the posi- 

 tion of the fruit, but in a few instances 

 the same genus has acrocarpous and pleu- 

 rocarpous species. 



Mosses are either annual or perennial. 

 In the latter instance new branches are 

 thrown out, which are called innovations. 

 When dried, the leaves recover their ori- 

 ginal appearance completely if immersed 

 in water. They require, however, in gene- 

 ral, a good deal of moisture when in active 

 growth. They are found in all parts of the 

 world, and occur on mountains at heights 

 where all phasnogamic vegetation ceases. 

 A few species occur in amber. They per- 

 haps yield fewer objects of utility to man 

 than any other division of plants, except 

 those of the same alliance. In agriculture 

 and in the garden, though of small size, 

 they are often noxious weeds. [M.J. B.] 



MUSCOLOGY. That part of botany which 

 treats of Mosses. 



MUSHROOM. A term applied some- 

 times collectively to certain of the larger 

 Fungi,bnt more usually restricted to Agari- 

 cus campestris, and the species confounded 

 with it. If the use of mushrooms as food 

 were, however, restricted to that species 

 as it occurs in our pastures, a very small 

 quantity would be consumed compara- 

 tively, our market being largely supplied 

 with coarser species. A vast quantity, 

 moreover, are raised artificially, and may 

 be had at almost any season of the year, 

 though their price is necessarily high. 



The common Mushroom appears to de- 

 pend greatly upon the prevalence of the 

 horse. Mushrooms, at least, can be raised 

 with a great degree of certainty from 

 horse droppings, properly prepared, with- 

 out the admixture of any artificially raised 

 spawn. The manure of the riding school 

 at Belvoir, where the straw is pounded 

 down into minute fragments, gives a con- 

 stant supply. There is no doubt that A. 

 campestris is preferable to any of the allied 

 species, but it is not to be supposed that it 

 is the only one that is wholesome. Indeed 

 it is rejected from many Italian markets, 

 where species of more suspicious character 

 are allowed to pass muster. Further infor- 

 mation will be found under Horse Mush- 

 room, Ketchup, &c. — , HEDGE. The 

 common name of a large form of Af/aricus 

 arvensis, which is finely figured at tab. 

 77 of Mrs. Hussey's Illustrations of British 

 Mycology. The pileus is sometimes as much 

 as fourteen inches across, and of a tawny 

 yellow, with rich brown closely pressed 

 concentric scales. The flesh turns yellow 

 when salted. The gills are at first white, 

 then pallid red without admixture of grey, 

 and at length purple-brown. The stem is 

 more or less bulbous, and stuffed with 

 shining fibres, scaly below, with a thin 

 broad ring above. It grows under trees, 

 or on banks near water, always more or less 

 tufted, and never occurring in rings. The 

 Hedge Mushroom is recommended by Mrs. 

 Hussey for ketchup, but eaten in sub- 

 stance, she says, it produces violent sick- 

 ness. Cases of mischief from eating Mush- 

 rooms are generally traceable to this pecu- 

 liar form. — , MITRE. Helvella crispa. — , 

 OX. A name given to a large variety of the 

 true Mushroom, Agaricus cavipestris,v/hich 

 measures sometimes fifteen inches across, 

 with a proportionately stout stem. The 

 pileus is rough with scales, which are at 

 first white, and then tawny or reddish- 

 brown. The gills are quite free, leaving a 

 groove round the top of the stem, which 

 takes a vinous hue when bruised. The smell 

 is powerful, but agreeable. No part of the 

 plant turns yellow. We have seen this 

 variety in enormous rings many yards in 

 diameter. It is perfectly wholesome, and 

 has a fine flavour. [M. J. BJ 



MUSHROOMS, POISONOUS. As so 

 many accidents occur from the use of 

 Fungi, we are often asked for some gene- 

 ral characters by which the bad may be dis- 

 tinguished from the good. It is impossible, 

 however, to give any satisfactory answer, 

 and we must therefore trust to experi- 

 ence, without which, indeed, we should be 

 subject every day to trouble in respect to 

 other objects of use. The Field Mushroom 

 assumes so many forms that it is impossi- 

 ble to assign any characters which shall 

 embrace all, and the hotbed Mushroom is 

 different from these. The bright rosy tint 

 of the gills, and the absence of any yellow 

 stain when bruised, are the surest indica- 

 tions. The test of a silver spoon is fallacious. 

 As a general rule, no one would eat Fungi 

 which have a revolting smell, and if they 



